Dear Sir,

“Give it to Mikey, he will eat it.”

We all know that politics is not a popularity contest and at times leaders must make tough decisions, but, jeez, do the tough ones follow Senator Michael Fahy or does he create them? A single issue will not necessarily cause persons to withdraw their vote, even though positions are important. It’s when positions continue to mount on the opposite side of the fence where a pattern emerges that indicates the kind of dynamic that warrants serious intervention.

The old people used to say: “When you find yourself in a hole, throw down the shovel stop digging.” Fahy didn’t hear that one. Notwithstanding that, a government must govern and part of that function is to get legislation through the House.

One thing has become a new political reality: no legislation good or bad seems to pass on the Hill without the broad populace support. Even with the temporary veto power, as exercised in the recent vote in the Senate, it too comes with political consequences.

Two issues face us as a country: one is we must continue to find ways to climb out of a mountain of debt and to energise the economy. The other is we need sociopolitical stability. We can surge ahead with what may seem brilliant economic ideas, but if in the process we become socially destabilised, the effort is ruined.

With both political parties in disarray, there is still the responsibility of the elected House to govern the country. Members need to look past the cracked walls of their own party and realise there exists a greater Bermuda that is in a time of need.

The moment is now, direction is needed now. We cannot wait until 2017 to reset directions. A majority has to come together in mutual dialogue to do what is best for the country.

KHALID WASI